How the State can make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change

The submissions process on "How the State can make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change" is now closed.

Please click here to view submissions received from members of the public, advocacy/interest groups and other representative organisations.

A list of Submissions received from NGOs, representative groups, advocacy groups, political parties, commercial entities and academics is available here.

A signpost document prepared by the Secretariat is available to read here.

Submissions Process

The submissions process on how the State can make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change is now closed. The closing date for submissions on the topic was 5pm on Friday, 11th of August.

Members of the public, representative groups and citizen organisations were urged to make a submission to the Assembly.

The Chairperson of the Assembly, the Honourable Mary Laffoy said “The Assembly has been tasked with considering some of the most complex topics facing Irish society and on this occasion, I think it is fair to say we will be looking at something that has posed a challenge for societies right across the world. Climate change, specifically one country or another’s capacity to lead or to step back from the issue, is a global talking point right now therefore it is timely for us to be participating in this discussion."

What aspects of Climate Change did the Assembly look at?

In order to give this topic due consideration, the Assembly met over two weekends to consider it; 30th September/ 1st October 2017 and 4th/5th November 2017. A second weekend was added to allow the Members to consider this important issue more fully to enhance the discussion and the eventual recommendations which emerged.

Submissions were invited across the full spectrum of issues in relation to Climate Change, but in particular the Assembly sought to hear views on Ireland's energy, transport and agriculture sectors.

In addition, the Assembly dovetailed the work of the Assembly with work being undertaken by the advisory group on the National Dialogue on Climate Change. That group will be considering how the State can properly engage the wider public on the issue of climate change and as such submissions addressing this aspect were also welcome. It is hoped that aligning the Citizens' Assembly with the National Dialogue will add to the national discourse on climate change and would ultimately be of benefit to the Members as they considered this issue.

How were the submissions used?

The submissions play a key role in helping the secretariat and the Expert Advisory Group develop the work programme on the topic and can ultimately shape the recommendations being made by the Members to the Houses of Oireachtas. All submissions are published on the Assembly's website, and a signpost document was prepared for the Members of the Assembly. The signpost document is available to read here.

What form will the outcome of the Assembly's work take?

According to the resolution establishing the Assembly, the Assembly must report and make recommendations to the Houses of the Oireachtas. This is done by means of a voting by the members. The resolution goes on to say that the Government will provide in the Houses of the Oireachtas a response to each recommendation of the Assembly and, if accepting the recommendation, will indicate the time frame it envisages for the holding of any related referendum